December 20, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Special Sparklers

Here are my top wine picks from the last release of the year - the December 20, 2025 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here). We are back to a manageable release size with just over 100 products offered in this release. The feature story is titled "Special Sparklers" and focuses on fine sparkling wines to cap off the year. All the wines should be readily available for purchase both online and in-store at LCBO outlets across Ontario.

We'll begin with the feature story that looks at special sparkling wines for your next (special) occasion, whether its New Year's celebrations or something else months from now. Of the dozen bubblies that were included as part of the theme, five are among my top sparkling wine picks. From Champagne, the Blanc de Blancs is crafted with 100% Chardonnay, while the Zero Dosage Champagne is composed of 50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay, and 25% Pinot Noir. Also from France, the Limoux is crafted with the indigenous Mauzac grape varietal. On the local front, from Niagara, the 2018 Brut Sparkling is a blend of 53% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, and 5% Pinot Meunier, while the Rosé Sparkling is made with 68% Chardonnay and 32% Pinot Noir, with dosage of Cabernet Franc.

Other sparkling wines not part of the feature story include the 2021 Brut Sparkling from Prince Edward County that is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, while the Crémant de Bourgogne is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.

Italy leads the way among my top red wine picks from this release, and at the top of the pecking order is the excellent Nerello Mascalese from Sicily. Tuscany has a quartet of lovely red wines, with Sangiovese the centrepiece. The Brunello di Montalcino is crafted with Sangiovese Grosso, while the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a blend of Sangiovese (Prugnolo Gentile), Canaiolo, and other permitted varieties. The Riserva Chianti Classico is 100% Sangiovese, while the Chianti Classico Annata is composed of 90% Sangioveto (Sangiovese) and 10% Canaiolo. From France, both the Vacqueyras and the Corbières are blends made with Grenache and Syrah. Among the mono-varietal wines, both Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Australia will delight, as well as the Pinotage from South Africa.

All of my top white wine recommendations in this release are mono-varietal wines and dry, including the Rieslings from Australia and Austria. Chardonnay wine lovers should find joy in examples from Niagara, Burgundy, and Australia. Other mono-varietal white wines include the Chenin Blanc from South Africa, an Italian Pinot Grigio from Trentino, a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, and a Spanish Verdejo from Rueda.

Happy holidays and see you in 2026! Cheers!

Red Wine:

• MONTES LIMITED SELECTION PINOT NOIR 2023 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#37937) (XD) - $16.95  88+ pts  wine review
• FALERNIA GRAN RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2021 - Sustainable, Valle de Elqui, Chile (#269175) (XD) - $17.95
• VITIS ÚNICA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - DO Valle del Maipo, Chile (#668707) (XD) - $18.95
• ANGOVE FAMILY CREST CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#20886) (XD) - $19.95  89 pts  wine review
• AUBERT & MATHIEU MARIE ANTOINETTE CORBIÈRES 2023 - AOP, Languedoc, France (#25811) (XD) - $19.95

• KANONKOP KADETTE PINOTAGE 2022 - WO Stellenbosch, South Africa (#30191) (XD) - $21.95  review coming soon...
• ZONTE'S FOOTSTEP 1ST OFF THE RANK CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - McLaren Vale, South Australia (#33417) (XD) - $21.95  92 pts  wine review
• FAMILLE PERRIN LES CHRISTINS VACQUEYRAS 2022 - AOC, Rhône, France (#973453) (XD) - $25.95
• NOZZOLE RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2021 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#11109) (XD) - $27.95  91+ pts  wine review
• CASTELLARE DI CASTELLINA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2023 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#970095) (XD) - $29.95  91 pts  wine review

• BLACK BANK HILL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022 - VQA Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#48739) (XD) - $34.95
• CARPINETO RISERVA VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#368910) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• TORNATORE PIETRARIZZO ETNA ROSSO 2021 - DOC, Sicily, Italy (#18926) (XD) - $40.95  92+ pts  wine review
• PECCHENINO SAN GIUSEPPE BAROLO 2019 - DOCG, Piedmont, Italy (#181396) (XD) - $76.95
• LA TORRE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2020 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#17626) (XD) - $81.95

White Wine:

• TRASIEGO GREEN QUARTZ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2023 - Valle de Casablanca, Chile (#47080) (XD) - $16.95
• ALVI'S DRIFT 221 CHENIN BLANC 2024 - WO Western Cape, South Africa (#45189) (XD) - $17.95
• MOUNTADAM EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2024 - Eden Valley, South Australia (#10411) (XD) - $18.95
• PAGO DEL CIELO CELESTE ON THE LEES SUR LIES VERDEJO 2024 - DO Rueda, Spain (#44756) (XD) - $19.95
• CONTESSA GIOVANNI MANCI PINOT GRIGIO 2024 - DOC Trentino, Italy (#46527) (XD) - $19.95
• KILIKANOON MORT'S BLOCK WATERVALE RIESLING 2023 - Clare Valley, South Australia (#428342) (XD) - $19.95  90+ pts  wine review
• CAVE DE LUGNY MÂCON-CHARDONNAY 2023 - Sustainable, AOC, Burgundy, France (#45272) (XD) - $23.95
• DOMAINE LE CLOS JORDANNE JORDAN VILLAGE CHARDONNAY 2023 - VQA West Niagara, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#20455) (XD) - $30.00
• DOMÄNE WACHAU RIED LOIBENBERG FEDERSPIEL RIESLING 2023 - Wachau, Austria (#45352) (XD) - $32.95

Sparkling Wine:

• ANTECH CUVÉE FRANÇOISE BRUT NATURE BLANQUETTE DE LIMOUX - Traditional Method, AOP, Languedoc, France (#44204) (XD) - $22.95
• JACKSON-TRIGGS ENTOURAGE GRAND RESERVE BRUT SPARKLING 2018 - Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#234161) (XD) - $34.95  91+ pts  wine review
• LOUIS BOUILLOT FLASHBACK 1975 EXTRA BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE - Anniversary Edition, Traditional Method, AOC, Burgundy, France (#46346) (XD) - $39.95
• TWO SISTERS LUSH ROSÉ SPARKLING 2021 - Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#42955) (D) - $58.00
• LAFONTAINE DU LOUP BRUT SPARKLING 2021 - Ttraditional Method, VQA Ontario, Canada (#48424) (D) - $65.45
• NICOLAS FEUILLATTE BRUT BLANC DE BLANCS CHAMPAGNE 2019 - AOC, France (#13831) (XD) - $66.95
• BRUNO PAILLARD DOSAGE ZÉRO D:Z CHAMPAGNE - AOP, France (#45268) (XD) - $127.95

Dessert Wine:

• LAKEVIEW CELLARS RIESLING ICEWINE 2019 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#471839, 200 mL) (S) - $34.95  92 pts  wine review
• INNISKILLIN NIAGARA ESTATE CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2023 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#48391, 375 mL) (S) - $99.95  92+ pts  wine review